Mike Hohnen

Coaching for personal growth, change and development

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Are you a fast food junkie?

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https://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/uk_news/magazine/3546641.stm
Quiz: Are you a fast food junkie?

As the world’s largest fast food chain overhauls its menus, test yourself on how much you know about burgers, fries and the people who sell these to us.

McDonalds’ menus are changing amid growing alarm in the fast food industry about nutrition and sales. The company is junking its “super-sized” portions and pushing foods like salads or fruit.

Plastic That Pays Back — Mar. 15, 2004

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Credit card issuers know that you, as a consumer, are more loyal to brands like Avon, Barnes & Noble and Amazon than you’ll ever be to them. The first offer of a lower interest rate that lands in your mailbox, and you’re likely to be off – which is why card companies are increasingly hitching their stars to other brands. To win your favor, they’re offering to help you buy more of your favorite products. Is there a downside to these deals?

[Read more…] about Plastic That Pays Back — Mar. 15, 2004

Upscale Restaurateurs Offer Concierge-Like Services for Guests

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Upscale Restaurateurs Offer Concierge-Like Services for Guests
These days it can be tough to tell the difference between a maitre d’ and a hotel concierge.

Need collar stays? Spiaggia has them. Cuff links? Seasons will get them. A spritz of Static Guard? No problem at Des Plaines’ Cafe la Cave. A size 52 long sport coat? Ambria has it.

“Places really interested in growing their business use their maitre d’s very much like you would use a concierge,” said Isidore Kharasch, who heads Deerfield-based consultancy Hospitality Works.

“I think part of what we do is attention to detail. You need to notice things,” added Chris Gerber, the dining room manager at Trio in Evanston.

That’s especially true in an industry that expects to pull in $440 billion this year and is enjoying a small jump in consumer spending for the first time in five quarters, according to a recent report by NPD Group market researchers. [Read more…] about Upscale Restaurateurs Offer Concierge-Like Services for Guests

Burger King revives 'Your Way' tag in new TV campaign

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MIAMI (March 8) – Burger King broke new TV ads under the familiar “Have It Your Way” tag, the first step in what will be a broad-based marketing campaign to revive the brand and its sales.

The two 30-second spots are the first work for the chain by its new agency, Crispin Porter Bogusky of Miami, and were developed less than a month after the agency had won the estimated $350 million account. [Read more…] about Burger King revives 'Your Way' tag in new TV campaign

Finger scans let shoppers get done quickly

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Shoppers at a chain of Southern grocery stores can pay for purchases simply by pressing their thumb to a special screen, thanks to technology developed by San Francisco company Pay By Touch.

The Bay Area company says its method, which uses finger scans linked to customer’s financial accounts, will speed patrons through cashier lines, reduce merchants’ costs and cut fraud.

“Somebody can steal the last four digits of your social security number, your checking account or your PIN, but they can’t steal your fingerprint,” said Craig Ramsey, chief executive of Pay By Touch, launched last year.

During the coming months, finger-scanning payment systems are scheduled to be installed at all 116 stores in South Carolina and Georgia owned by grocery chain Piggly Wiggly Carolina.

Pay By Touch is one of several firms looking to make money from biometrics, the science of using biological properties such as fingerprints, voice recognition and retina scans to identify individuals. Interest in the field began as a way to identify people for security purposes, but now is being explored for its retail potential.

Other companies including Information Architects of Florida and Biometric Access of Texas are also developing fingerprint-secured retail transactions, according to NACHA-The Electronic Payments Association, a coalition of banks and credit unions. [Read more…] about Finger scans let shoppers get done quickly

You want it your way

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Picky, picky, picky.

Americans won’t eat — or drink — just anything anymore. Starbucks knows it. Whole Foods knows it. Frito-Lay knows it.

The driving forces are as diverse as the nation’s population. America is becoming a nation of ultraselective eaters. Selective as in: Gimme-a-world-of-choices-so-I-can-customize-my-diet. There’s a powerful sense of control in saying, ”Hold the bread” — or ”Hold the foam.”
[Read more…] about You want it your way

MSNBC – Got a quarter for an Atkins snack?

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https://msnbc.msn.com/id/4456943/

CHICAGO – The office vending machine, with its carbohydrate-laden cookies, candy bars and potato chips, is probably the last place the numerous Americans on low-carb diets would think to go for a snack.

Pure Foods LLC Friday announced the launch of the machines, which will include Atkins-branded shakes and bars, as well as other low-carb items. The machines will carry 17 snacks and eight low-carb beverages, the company said